Lubricator



l HENRY C. HODGES AND CHARLES H.

in an equilibrium of steam-pressure, when iu arnr rrrcn.

PARSHALL, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

LUBRICATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 225,985, dated March 80, 1880.

Application filed January 31, '1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, HENRY G. HODGES and CHARLES H. PARsHALL, of Detroit, county of Vayne, State ot` Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lubricators; and we hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specication.

Our invention relates to lubricators for steam-boilers, and more particularly to that class of lubricators where steam-pressure is exerted within the body of the lubricator.

The object of our invention is to overcome the undue waste ot oil at the moment ot' shutting oft the steam, and it is accomplished by providing a valve located in the oil-exit passage, which shall open automatically by the pressure ot' steam baci; through that passage when steam is turned on, and shall close automatically by the pressure of steam through another passage, or by other external pressure, upon the same valve when the steam is shut off from the cylinder.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view of a lubricator with our improvement attached and shown in section. In this figure the device is represented as attached to the top of the boiler, with pipes D and D independent. Fig. 2 is a variation, representing the device attached to the end of the boiler and the pipe D leading from the steam-pipe; Fig. 3, a separate view of the valve-chamber. Figs. et and 5 are variations of the invention.

Heretofore in that class of lubricators whereuse, is maintained within the lubricator a dii'- icultyhas been experienced, owing to the rapid escape of oil at the moment steam is shut ott'V from the parts that are being lubricated.

Where the steam-pipe and oil-outlet both led from the dry-pipe or other steam source this difficulty was doubtless due to the fact that when steam is shut off from the drypipe a quauttiy of vapor under pressure is housed within the lubricator, and forces the oil out in coming to an equilibrium with the medium in the dry-pipe; but where the steam-pipe leads from the boiler and the oil-exit discharge into the drypipe the wastage is caused by the fact that when steam is out off from the dry-pipe the preponderance of steam-pressure through the steam-pipe drives the oil out. W'e propose to overcome this difficulty by providing a valve, as above stated.

A is an ordinary lubricator of any suitable construction. B is its oil-exit passage.

C is a transparent water-chamber, through which the oil passes on its way to the parts to be lubricated.

D is a steam-pipe communicating with the steam-space of the boiler E. This device in the drawings is presented as being attached to a locomotive-boiler. Its dry-pipe is represented at F.

In the arrangement shown the oil-exit pipe discharges into the dry-pipe and the steampipe D communicates directly with the steamspaces of the boiler.

G is a valve located at any desired point on the oil-exit passage between the oil-reservoir and the oil-discharge point.

The valve G has a stem, G', which projects into a small cylinder, H, where it is constantly acted upon by the steam-pressure, the area of the valve G being considerably greater than that of the piston or stem G.

The operation of the device is as follows: When there is steam-pressure in the boiler and the engine is at rest there is a corresponding though somewhat less pressure in the lubricator through the steam-pipe D, and as there is no resisting pressure from the dry-pipe through the oil-exit passage B the steam acting against the stem or piston G forces the valve G firmly upon its seat and holds it there. Now, when the throttle-valve is opened, so as to admit steam into the dry-pipe, the pressure baci; through the oil-exit passage B, acting upon the large area of the valve G, will overcome the greater pressure of steam onv the valve stem or piston G in the cylinder or chalnber H, and causes the valve to open instantly and remain open until the steam is again shut oft from the dry-pipe, at which moment the preponderance of pressure on the stem G will cause the valve to close quickly and shut on all escape of oil. This alternate operation ot' openin g and closing the valve will take place automatically as often as the steam is turned on or off from the dry-pipe or engine.

The steam-pipe in Fig.2 is represented as descending from the top of the lubricator and entering the boiler below the level of the cylinder or chamber H. This construction is designed to prevent accumulation of condensewater in the cylinder or chamber H.

XVe do not limit ourselves to the employment of a device in which the valve G and plunger G are in a single piece, forit is apparent that the valve may be connected with one end of a pivoted lever and the plunger or a weight or spring at the other end ofthe pivoted lever. So, also, instead of takin g the steam from the steam-pipeD to actuate the valve, there may be an entirely independent steam-passage, D', as shown in Fig. l, for this particular purpose, and this would be necessary in many constructions-as, for instance, those in which the steam-pipe D and oil-exit pipe B are both made to take their steam from or open into the drypipe, our invention contemplating broadly any construction in which a valve is so arranged in the oil-exit passage as to open by the back pressure of steam through the oil-passage when steam is turned on and close by a preponderance of reacting pressure in the opposite direction byfan external force or through an opposing steam-passage when the steam is shut off.

Any form of valve or cock may be employed and the mechanism be changed to adapt it to operate any such valve or cock; but the plunger-valve is believed to be best adapted for the purpose, and is consequently the kind of valve shown in the drawings.

' In the case illustrated the valve is located between the oil-reservoir and the transparent cylinder or sight-feed, as it is termed, because this avoids the possibility of the oil entering the transparent chamber.

In Fig. Ltis illustrated a variation of our invention, in which a Spring is made to take the place of the reacting steam-pressure, so that the valve will open by the pressure back through the oil-exit passage and close by the pressure of the spring when steam is closed off.

Those parts ot' the case which are marked with the letter .r are all constructed in a single casting, thus avoiding entirely the use of joints in forming these several parts; and this feature is of considerable value in cheapening the construction and avoiding the usual leakage attendant on such devices when the parts x are made separately and united by joints.

'AMJ is a condenser, which may or may not be employed.

In Fig. 5 is represented another variation, in which the automatic valve is located entirely within the oil-exit passage, and is opened by back pressure when steam is turned into the dry-pipe and closed by direct pressure from within the lub'ricator when steam is turned oft'. K is a valve, with a cylindrical portion, k, and with wings 7c. When steam is turned on the back pressure forces the valve down until the part 7c passes the openings k2. The oil will then ilow up through the channels formed between the ribs, and when steam is shut off the direct pressure from the lubricator forces the valve up and closes the flow of oil.

The valve-chamber G2 is preferably made in a single piece, as shown in Fig. 3, since in this form it serves at the same time to secure the glass tube C in its place, and the latter can be removed or a new one inserted by removing the part G2, after which the tube can be slipped up through from beneath. It serves at the same time as a funnel to give direction to the visible drop of oil.

l. In combination with the oil-exit passage of a lubricator, a valve located therein to close the passage, said valve constructed to open by the back pressure ot steam through the oil-exit pipe when steam is turned on and close by the pressure ol' steam in an opposite direction through another steam-passage when steam is shut oft, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In combination with the oil-exit passage of a lubricator, a valve connected with a plunger located in an independent steam-chamber, the construction being such that when steam is turned on the back pressure through the oil-exit passage will open the valve, but when steam is turned off the steam acting upon the plunger in the independent chamber will close the valve, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. In combination with the oil-exit passage of a lubricator, a valve connected with and forming a part of a plunger, which projects into an independent steam-chamber, the construction being such that the back pressure of steam through the oil-passage when steam is turned on will open the valve, and when steam is turned oft' the resisting pressure on the plunger in the steam-chamber will close the valve, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

4. In combination with the-oil-exit passage of a lubricator, a valve located therein, a valve-actuating plunger located in an independent steam-chamber, and a steam-passage leading from the boiler to the steam-chamber below thelatter, whereby accumulation of water in the plunger-chamber is avoided, substantially as described.

5. In combination with the oil-exit pipe ot' a lubricator, an automatic valve located therein, said valve adapted to open and remain open when steam is turned on, andto close and remain closed when steam is turned o`, substantially as and for the purposes described.

6. In combination with the oil-exit passage of a lubricator, an automatically-operating valve located therein between the oil-reser- IOO IIO

IIS

Voir and the visible feed or transparent ehainacting as a valve-chamber, as a fastening to ber, substantially as and for the purpose desecure the glass tube in its place, and as a funseribed. nel for giving direction to the visible drops of 7. In alubricator, the combination, With the oil. 15 5 oil-exit passage, of an automatic valve located In testimony whereof We sign this specificatherein and made to open by the back presstion in the presence of two Witnesses.

ure of steam through the oil-passage when HENRY C. HODGES. steam is on, and close by external pressure in CHARLES H. PARSHALL. an opposite direction upon the valve when Witnesses: 1o steam is shut oft', substantially described. WM. M. PORTER,

8. The part G2, formed in a single piece and S. E. THOMAS. 

